Systems And Methods For Remote Web Query And Image Selection Exchange To Video Screen

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a request to display, on an external display device, a media file, where the request comprises a first logical address for accessing the media file at a first storage location, transmitting to a set-top box, a second logical address for accessing a copy of the media file at a second storage location, where the second logical address differs from the first logical address, and where the second storage location differs from the first storage location. Other embodiments are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/564,480 filed Sep. 22, 2009, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to searching for media on a handheldcommunications device. Specifically, the present invention relates todisplaying multimedia search results on a handheld communications deviceand transmitting a desired result to an external display device.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Handheld communications devices, such as cellular telephones, havebecome a common tool of everyday life. Cellular telephones are no longersimply used to place telephone calls. With the range of featuresavailable rapidly increasing, cellular telephones are now used forstoring addresses, keeping a calendar, reading e-mails, draftingdocuments, etc. These devices are small enough that they can be carriedin a pocket or purse all day, allowing a user to stay in contact almostanywhere. Recent devices have become highly functional, providingapplications useful to business professionals as well as to casualusers.

Many handheld communications devices now allow a user to take picturesand to film videos, or to search the internet for multimedia content.These features are possible using devices with built in cameras ordevices with web browsers that access the internet over a cellularnetwork, WiFi network, etc.

However, these devices usually have small screens that limit the viewingcapabilities. For instance, the small screen limits the number of peopleviewing the screen at one time. A user may take a picture and want alarge group to see it. The user may also simply desire a larger screento view the picture. Alternatively, the user may wish for someone at aremote location to see the picture on a large screen. Current devices onthe market do not provide an easy way to meet these needs.

What is needed is the ability to take multimedia content being viewed ona handheld communications device and transfer the content to a largerscreen, such as a television. What is also needed is an improved way tobrowse multimedia search results on the device.

The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods forsearching for media on a network using a handheld communications device,and displaying a desired search result on an external display device.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a system forsharing a media file. The system includes a handheld communicationsdevice including a display, a transceiver, a device memory, a deviceprocessor, and a media logic unit on the device memory; an applicationserver in communication with the handheld communications deviceincluding a server memory, a server processor, and a media sharing logicunit on the server memory; a set-top box in communication with theapplication server, and a display device in communication with theset-top box. The handheld communications device transmits a firstaddress of the media file to the application server and the applicationserver transmits a second address of the media file to the set-top boxso that the media file can be displayed on the display device. Thetransfer may be accompanied by a request to display the media file onthe display device.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a method forsharing a media resource on a handheld communications device. The methodincludes receiving a media search request from a handheld communicationsdevice over a network, gathering from the network a set of mediaresources corresponding to the media search request, receiving from thehandheld device a request to display a media resource from the set ofmedia resources on an external display device, and transmitting anaddress of the media resource over the network to a set-top box coupledto the external display device. The set-top box is configured to displaythe media resource on the external display device.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention is a methodfor sharing a media resource on a handheld communications device. Themethod includes transmitting a media search query to a server over anetwork, retrieving from the network a set of media resourcescorresponding to the media search query, transmitting to the server arequest to display, on an external display device, a media resource fromthe set of media resources, and transmitting, from the server to aset-top box coupled to the external display device, an address of themedia resource. The set-top box is configured to display the mediaresource on the external display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system for media searching and displaying a media file ona television screen, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows a method for displaying search results, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a network flow diagram for displaying search results,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a method for receiving a search request and a displayrequest from a handheld communications device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a handheld communications device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a user interface for displaying search results on ahandheld communication device, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show techniques for sending an image to an externaldisplay device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show techniques for viewing a new stack of searchresults on a handheld communications device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention provides systems and methods for searching formedia on a network using a handheld communications device, andtransmitting a desired search result to an external display device overthe network. A request to display a desired search result may traverseseveral elements of the network before arriving at a set-top box coupledto the external display device.

A handheld communications device, as used herein and throughout thisdisclosure, refers to any portable electronic device capable ofwirelessly sending and receiving data. Examples of a handheldcommunications device include cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), portable music devices having wireless technology,etc.

A set-top box, as used herein and throughout this disclosure, refers toany device able to receive through a network and to format the data forviewing on an external display device such as a television. Examples ofa set-top box include a cable box, a satellite dish receiver box, anInternet Protocol Television (IPTV) box, etc.

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a system for viewing broadcast TVcontent over a packet-based network such as the Internet. Simultaneousweb browsing and TV content viewing may be possible in an IPTV system.This also allows the TV to become an interface for content that isretrieved over the web. The content may be delivered via IP multicast,or via individual unicasting. In the case of multicasting, the set-topbox identified above becomes a multicast client which joins an IPmulticast group. Groups and clients are typically defined by a serviceprovider/operator of the IPTV service or network.

Additional elements of the operator's network include a plurality ofgateways, switches, servers, and databases. One such server is anapplication server, which hosts applications, logic, and other processesfor use by third-party applications, such as those installed on ahandheld communications device or a set-top box. The term ApplicationServer includes the computer hardware on which the services run, theservices that the server makes available, and the software frameworkused to host the services. An application server may communicate with aMedia Server, which is a device that stores and shares media resourcesor files. Another example of a server is an authentication server, whichprovides authentication services to users or other systems over thenetwork. This allows an operator to determine whether a privilege willbe granted to a particular user for a requested resource, such as amedia file. In an IPTV network, authentication servers use the RADIUSprotocol; however, alternative authentication mechanisms can be used.The servers may be coupled to databases to facilitate storage.Combinations of servers and databases will be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

A media resource or file, as used herein and throughout this disclosure,includes any information or data that can be represented in a visualformat. Examples include images, animations, videos, etc. A mediaresource is typically stored in one of several proprietary oropen-source storage formats, such as JPEG, GIF, TIFF, AVI, MPEG, MP4,DivX, etc. Media resources may additionally include audio data. A mediaresource or file can be accessible over a network by using a uniquenetwork address (address) for the resource. Addresses include but arenot limited to any combination of host addresses, IP addresses, logicaladdresses, etc. For instance, an image on a website hosted by a serviceprovider's network may be in the form:http://www.domain.com/image1.JPEG. Other address formats will beapparent to one skilled in the art.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a user of ahandheld communications device is provided with the ability to perform asearch for a particular media resource, such as an image. The searchcommand triggers a search for the particular resource over the internetor over a similar set of indexed databases on a network, using generallyavailable search engine techniques. The results may be stored on aserver within the network, and are displayed on a display integratedwith the handheld device. Owing to the small size of the displays onmost handheld communications devices, a set of results may be subdividedinto stacks of, for instance, 10 results at a time. The stack isoriented in such a way that it is apparent to the user that the resultsare stacked. For instance, the edges of image results may be rotated atvarious angles so that they can be seen as if “looking down” on top ofthe stack. The user has the ability to select and manipulate the resultsindividually by using their finger or a stylus on a touchscreen to“grab” the item and slide it around the screen. This is similar to themanner by which an item may be manipulated if it was physically sittingon a table, desk, etc.

If after viewing the items, the user does not see an item that theywould prefer, and there are additional items from the set of resultsthat have not been viewed, the user has the ability to retrieve the nextstack of results. This may be accomplished via a user interface, forinstance, a “next page” button. In an alternate embodiment, the handheldcommunications device includes an accelerometer, and the next stack ofimages is retrieved simply by shaking the device. When the device isshaken, the previous stack of results is cleared from the screen, andthe next stack of results is displayed in a similar manner. The user hasthe ability to manipulate these results in a similar fashion as theoriginal stack of results.

When browsing through a set of results, the user may find a particularmedia file within the stack of results that they would like to havedisplayed on an external display device, such as a television screen.Via the graphical user interface on the handheld communication device,the user can send the media file from the handheld device to thetelevision screen. This can be done by using the touchscreen to drag theitem to, for instance, an icon of the television on the user interface,or alternatively, by performing a pre-defined gesture to invoke theaccelerometer. The signal from the accelerometer triggers the command tosend the media file to the television once this gesture is performed.The pre-defined gesture is, for example, a throwing motion while holdingthe handheld device.

When the command to send the media file is executed, the handheldcommunications device submits a request to a server on the network,requesting the server to transmit an address of the media file to theset-top box. The handheld device includes in its request an address ofthe media file. For instance, in the case of an image on a web site, thehandheld device sends the server a link to the image. Alternatively, themedia file itself is uploaded to the server. For files uploaded to theserver, the server stores a copy on a local or network database, andgenerates a link or address for the media file. The server then sendsthe address to the set-top box, while forwarding the request from thehandheld device to display the image. If a user of the set-top boxconfirms that he wishes to view the image, the set-top box accesses themedia file and displays it on the television.

For the following description, it can be assumed that mostcorrespondingly labeled structures across the figures (e.g., 132 and232, etc.) possess the same characteristics and are subject to the samestructure and function. If there is a difference between correspondinglylabeled elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results ina non-corresponding structure or function of an element for a particularembodiment, then that conflicting description given for that particularembodiment shall govern.

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 for remote media searching and displaying amedia file on a television screen, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. System 100 includes a handheld communicationsdevice 110, an application server 130, an authentication server 140, anda set-top box 150 that is coupled to a television 155. Applicationserver 130 provides access to the internet 170 for handheldcommunication device 110 and set-top box 150. Application server 130also includes logic 135. Further, image 180 represents a media file thatis hosted remotely and accessible via internet 170.

As described before, handheld communications device 110 allows a user tosearch the internet 170 for a plurality of images. In one exemplaryembodiment, handheld communications device 110 includes a third-partyinternet search application. When executed, the application communicateswith application server 130 to perform a search over the internet 170.The result of the search is delivered to handheld communications device110 as a set of search results. The set of search results may be furtherdivided into a plurality of stacks for easy display, wherein each stackincludes a plurality of media files, for instance, images. A user ofhandheld communications device 110 navigates this stack by moving theimages among the plurality of images from the top of the stack to seeother images. Within this stack is a desired search result, in the formof image 180. The user selects image 180 from the stack. With image 180selected, the user may desire to view image 180 on television 155. Toaccomplish this, the user drags image 180 on his touchscreen to an iconcorresponding to television 155. Alternatively, or in addition, usermakes a throwing motion to “throw” image 180 to television 155. Theseprocedures are further described in FIGS. 6 and 7.

After the user executes either command to send image 180, a request issubmitted to set-top box 150, via application server 130. If the requestto receive and display image 180 is approved by a user of set-top box150, then the sending process begins. In the case that image 180 isremotely hosted somewhere on internet 170, handheld communication device110 transmits an address of image 180 to application server 130.Optionally, user of device 110 can save image 180 to a memory on device110, in which case device 110 uploads a copy of image 180 to applicationserver 130, where it is stored on a database. In either case,application server 130 then transmits a second address of image 180 toset-top box 150. The second address may be the link to the copy storedon the database, or the link to the remote image on the internet. Inaddition to confirming at set-top box 150 whether or not to accept thedisplay request, authentication server 140 determines whether handheldcommunication device 110 is properly authenticated to transfer mediafile 180 to set-top box 150. This can be performed by verifying a uniqueidentification of handheld communication device 110, as well as set-topbox 150 using, for instance, a MAC address. A properly authenticatedtransfer triggers application server 130 to submit the address of image180 to set-top box 150, which accesses the resource and displays it ontelevision 155.

FIG. 2 shows a method for displaying search results, according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method begins withthe handheld communication device performing a search (S281). This maybe accomplished by launching an application such as a search box or viaa web browser. Once the search is performed, a stack of media files ispresented on the display of handheld communication device allowing auser to view the images (S283). For each media file within the stack,the user has several options. For instance, the user may wish to enlargean image by viewing it on a larger external display device, such as anIPTV (S285). If the user wishes to enlarge an image, the address to theimage is transmitted to a set top box (S287). In another exemplaryembodiment, the transmission is performed by an application server thatmay resize the image to conform to the specifications of the set-topbox.

The user may additionally wish to save a media file (S289), in whichcase the file is stored on a memory of the handheld communication device(S291). Alternatively, the file may be stored on the application serveror a database in communication with the application server. The user mayadditionally wish to send the media file to an email recipient (S293).If the user selects this option, a message is transmitted to therecipient (S295) with the media file attached. Transmission mayalternatively occur via text message, or any other delivery mechanismsuch as WiFi, BLUETOOTH, etc. The user can exercise these options forall images within a stack by viewing other images within a stack (S283).Finally, the user may wish to discard the presently displayed stack ofresults and retrieve the next stack (S297). This command can be executedby any of the means described herein, including “shuffling” or shakingthe handheld communication device, thereby activating an accelerometerto trigger a retrieval of the next stack of results (S299). The newstack is shown on the display of the handheld communication device(S283).

FIG. 3 shows a network flow diagram for displaying search results,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Ahandheld communication device 310 requests a media search from theapplication server (S381). Application server 330 sends media resultsback (S383) to handheld communication device 310. After a user selects adesired media file, the handheld communication device 310 requests forthe application server 330 to send the media file (S385). Applicationserver 330 communicates with an authentication server 340 to determine(S387) whether handheld communication device 310 is authorized to sendmedia resources to set-top box 350. This authorization may involvereferring to a database on authentication server 340 to determinewhether a relationship exists between handheld device 310 and set-topbox 350, for instance whether they are owned by the same user.Authentication server 340 then sends application server 330 anauthorization (S389) for handheld communication device 310. Applicationserver 330 notifies handheld communication device 310 that authorizationwas successful (S391), upon which handheld device 310 sends an addressof the media file to application server 330 (S393). Application server330 then forwards the address (S395) to set-top box 350. Alternatively,application server 330 stores and/or resizes the image and forwards asecond address of the stored image to set-top box 350. Set-top box 350is in communication with a display device, and can display the desiredmedia file on the television.

FIG. 4 shows a method for receiving a search request and a displayrequest from a handheld communications device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. This method is portrayed from theperspective of an application server on a service provider's network.The application server receives a media search request (S481) from ahandheld communication device. The server performs the search and sendsthe results back to the handheld communication device in a convenientlysized stack of media files (S483). The server then determines whether arequest for more media files has been received (S485). If this requesthas been received, the server delivers the next stack of results to thehandheld device (S487). The server then receives a “throw request” fromthe handheld device, or a request to display a media file on an externaldisplay device (S489). The request to throw includes an option to resizethe image (S491). If a resize is requested, or if it is determined bythe server that a resize is necessary based on the technicalspecifications of the set-top box and television, then the image issized to conform to those specifications (S493), and the resized imageis stored on a database in communication with the application server(S495). An address to this resized image is then sent to the set-top box(S497). Alternatively, if a resize is neither requested nor needed, anaddress of the original image is sent to the set-top box for displayingon the television (S497).

FIG. 5 shows components of a handheld communications device 510,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, handheld communications device 510 includes a touchscreen512, a speaker 514, a microphone 516, a camera 518, a transceiver 520, abattery 522, a central processing unit (CPU) 524, a memory 526, and anaccelerometer 528. Speaker 514 and microphone 516 allow handheldcommunication device 510 to be used for voice communications as well aslistening to music or sounds, etc. Screen 512 allows a user to searchfor images, view images, manipulate images, send images to a televisionor the trash, interact with the other components of handheldcommunication device 510, etc. Camera 518 allows the user to takepictures, video, etc. Transceiver 520 allows handheld communicationdevice 510 to wirelessly communicate with other devices or networks.Transceiver 520 may communicate using cellular radio frequencies (RF),WiFi, BLUETOOTH, infrared signals, etc. Battery 522 provides energy forall of the components of device 510. CPU 524 executes programs or logicstored on memory 526. These programs or logic include control logic forthe components of device 510, thereby allowing a user to view images,save images, send images to the television, etc. Memory 526 may storedata collected from image searches or acquired using camera 518, andcomprises any computer readable medium, such as RAM, ROM, etc.Accelerometer 528 detects an orientation and multiple directions ofmotion of device 510.

FIG. 6 shows a user interface for browsing a stack of search results ona handheld communication device 610, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. A touchscreen 612 displays a stackof images 623, an IPTV icon 613, an e-mail icon 615, a star icon 617, asearch toolbar 619, and a trash icon 621. A user of device 610 usestheir finger or other implement such as a stylus to manipulate stack ofimages 623 and slide the top image 680 to anywhere on display. Forinstance, image 680 can be “dragged” to IPTV icon 613 to execute thesending process described above, or to email icon 615 to be sent to anemail address, or to trash icon 621 to be erased. This may delete theimage from handheld communication device 610's memory, remove the imagefrom stack 623, etc. Sliding image 680 to IPTV icon 613 results in image680 being displayed on the television. Sliding image 680 to e-mail icon615 opens up an e-mail application with image 680 saved as a link,attachment, etc. Sliding image 680 to star icon 617 saves image 680 tothe user's favorites. This may be a list of favorite images that theuser can later search through. Search toolbar 619 allows the user toenter in search terms for finding an image or other media. Enteringsearch terms may search the memory of handheld communication device 610,the internet, etc.

When top image 680 is moved off of the stack 623, the next image isbecomes the top image and can be similarly manipulated. Therefore, stack623 may be manipulated by the user such that the user can see more thanone image at a time. In an exemplary embodiment, device 610 is equippedwith an accelerometer, and a user can simply “shuffle” the device itselfto retrieve the next stack of results. FIGS. 7A and 7B show in moredetail the potential methods to “throw” an image to a television,according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7A, a user first selects an image 780 from adisplay 712 of a handheld communication device 710. The user drags thisimage to the television icon 713 on display 712. Using the touchscreenfunctionality of display 712, the user can drag image 780 by placingtheir finger or a stylus on image 780, dragging the finger/stylus acrossthe screen 712 to the television icon 713, and taking the finger/stylusoff the screen 712. Once image 780 is on the television icon 713, thesending process is initiated. Specifically, a request is submitted tothe application server to transmit image 780 to a set-top box, wherein alink to the image is transmitted to the set-top box to be displayed onthe television.

The user may alternatively send the image to the television by rotatinghandheld communication device 710 in one smooth gesture or a combinationof gestures. This rotation may be clockwise, counterclockwise, towardsthe user, away from the user, etc. The rotation may be ninety degrees,or more, or less, depending upon the preference of the user. Theembodiment of FIG. 7B shows a handheld communications device 710 beingmoved in a direction indicated by arrow 701, while being rotated aboutits central axis. The rotation is detected by an accelerometer in device710, which submits a signal to a processor of handheld communicationdevice 710. In response to the signal, the processor executes logic todetermine that the top image 780 is to be sent to the television. Eithera copy of image 780, or the address to the image, is uploaded to anapplication server where it is saved, if necessary, and then an addressto the image is sent to a set-top box in communication with thetelevision. Therefore, a user may exercise multiple methods to initiatethe transfer of the media file to the IPTV.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C show means for viewing a new stack of searchresults 823, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, a user has already searched for mediafiles and has discarded a first stack of results. FIG. 8A shows thedisplay 812 of handheld communication device 810 after the user hasthrown away or otherwise discarded all results in the first stack,leaving simply an IPTV icon 813, an e-mail icon 815, a star icon 817,and a trash icon 821. To retrieve the next stack of results, the usermay shake handheld communication device 810, as shown in FIG. 8B. Theshaking is detected by an accelerometer within handheld communicationdevice 810. The accelerometer sends the detected signals to a processorin device 810, which executes logic to retrieve the next stack ofresults 823 to the display of handheld communication device 810. FIG. 8Cshows the new stack of images 823 on the display 812 of handheldcommunication device 810. In alternate embodiments of the presentinvention, images from the first stack, or any previous stack, may bemoved around the display and may remain on the display in an unfocusedstate, even after the new stack is retrieved, until the user hastransferred or otherwise discarded the media files.

The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations andmodifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. Thescope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appendedhereto, and by their equivalents.

Further, in describing representative embodiments of the presentinvention, the specification may have presented the method and/orprocess of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps.However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on theparticular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process shouldnot be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps maybe possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth inthe specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims.In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of thepresent invention should not be limited to the performance of theirsteps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readilyappreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by anapplication server comprising a processor, from a handheldcommunications device a first network address for accessing a mediafile; accessing, by the application server, the media file according tothe first network address; resizing, by the application server, themedia file to generate an updated media file; storing, by theapplication server, the updated media file in a storage device; andtransmitting, by the application server, a second network address to aset-top box for accessing the updated media file stored in the storagedevice, wherein the second network address is different from the firstnetwork address.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheldcommunications device, the application server, and the set-top box arecommunicatively coupled by way of a packet-based network.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein the packet-based network is the internet.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the storage device is a database.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising receiving from the handheldcommunications device a request to display the updated media file. 6.The method of claim 5, further comprising forwarding the request todisplay the updated media file to the set-top box.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising verifying that the handheld communicationsdevice and the set-top box are associated with a user account.
 8. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the handheld communications device comprisesa cellular telephone.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheldcommunications device comprises a wireless interface for communicatingwith the application server.
 10. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: directing the set-top box to present the updated media fileresponsive to receiving a request from the handheld communicationsdevice; and directing the set-top box to present a different media fileresponsive to receiving a second request initiates by the handheldcommunications device, wherein the handheld communications deviceinitiates the second request responsive to being shaken.
 11. A server,comprising: a memory to store instructions; and a processor coupled tothe memory, wherein responsive to executing the instructions theprocessor performs operations comprising: receiving a media searchrequest from a communications device over a network; collecting aplurality of media files according to the media search request;receiving a request to present a media file from the plurality of mediafiles, wherein the request comprises a first network address foraccessing the media file at a first storage device; and transmitting toa set-top box a second network address for accessing a copy of the mediafile at a second storage device and for presenting the copy of the mediafile, wherein the second network address differs from the first networkaddress, and wherein the second storage device differs from the firststorage device.
 12. The server of claim 11, wherein the operationsfurther comprise resizing the media file to generate an updated mediafile, wherein the copy of the media file is the updated media file. 13.The server of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise storingthe updated media file in the second storage device, wherein the secondnetwork address is used to locate the updated media file in the secondstorage device.
 14. The server of claim 11 wherein the operationsfurther comprise: receiving a request from the communication device topresent the media file; and forwarding the request to the set-top box.15. The server of claim 11, wherein the operations further compriseverifying that the communications device and the set-top box areassociated with a user account.
 16. The server of claim 11, wherein theoperations further comprise receiving a request from the communicationsdevice to present another media file from the plurality of media files.17. The server of claim 16, wherein the communications device initiatesthe request responsive to being shaken, and wherein the communicationsdevice comprises an accelerometer to detect the shaking.
 18. A method,comprising: receiving, by a server comprising a processor, a request todisplay, on an external display device, a media file, wherein therequest comprises a first logical address for accessing the media fileat a first storage location; and transmitting, by the server, to aset-top box, a second logical address for accessing a copy of the mediafile at a second storage location, wherein the second logical addressdiffers from the first logical address, and wherein the second storagelocation differs from the first storage location.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising: generating an updated media file byresizing the media file to a select viewing size; and storing theupdated media file in the second storage location, wherein the copy ofthe media file is the updated media file.
 20. The method of claim 18,wherein the request is received from a communications device, andwherein the communications device and the set-top box are associatedaccording to a user account.